Around the Horn — July 24, 2009
Sorry this post is late today. I simply got destroyed at work today, putting out a fire everywhere I turned, as result of a business trip to Dallas, Texas earlier in the week.
The big story of the week was MIKE CASTLE vs. THE BIRTHERS, otherwise known as the Base of the Republican Party.
Our reaction? We now feel sorry for Mike Castle. And we wonder if a conservative uprising could sink Castle in a primary. And then the video goes viral across the nation. That crazy lying woman from Georgetown is now famous. Go ahead Eileen.
During all of this, the News Journal tried to pretend that Castle wasn’t booed, but even they relented.
Timothy Pancoast of Delaware Politics thinks that if Castle listens to the Birthers, it will help the nation. Uh, ok. Help it how, Timmy? You want the nation to believe a lie again? Yes, all you Birthers out there are liars. Every last one of you. How are you guys liars? This is why.
Brian Shields has a conspiracy theory of his own, on why this video surfaced more than three weeks after it was filmed.
Tommywonk reveals that the conservatives at that meeting are just fundamentally and predictably stupid, just like their favorite candidate, Sarah Palin.
MJ at LSD listens to Curly react to the Birther lies down on WGMD and determines he has lost it. The question is, did he ever have it?
Castle votes no on Healthcare reform. Perhaps he is trying to woo the Birthers back? Either way, Mike Castle is facing the exact same problem the national GOP is facing.
Meanwhile, Carney gets some national recognition for his outraising Castle. And Protack decides that he now opposes Mike Castle.
AN ELECTION WITH FOUR CONSERVATIVES.
Redwaterlily explains why that is so.
She also lambasts the candidates for allowing their supposed “moral reasons” to deny Sussex County jobs it needs.
Shirley has her single issue in this campaign: the candidates position on mandatory motorcycle helmet laws. She gets responses from the husband of Polly Adams Mervine (why did she not respond herself??) and Independent Republican Matthew Opaliski.
Steve trumpets my endorsement of Wendy Jones.
Three cheers to Maria Evans for the title of the week: Polly Wanna Stand-In? I am sensing a pattern here. Can Polly campaign for herself? Maria has more: Polly Ever Wanna Face the Voters? Brian Shields also asks “Where’s Polly?”
Redwaterlily reports that the campaign phone calls have started.
Brian Shields liveblogs the 19th SD Candidates Forum. DL commenters were unimpressed with Mervine.
DSEA endorces Polly Adams Mervine. Delaware Politics reacts sarcastically.
John Tobin looks at where the majority of the votes in this special election will come from.
Anderson has a funny picture.
MARKELL VETOES THE BOTTLE BILL
Tommywonk has the details.
Delaware Politics offers reaction.
A NEW MEMBER OF THE DELAWARE BLOGOSPHERE
Shirley offers a welcome to Sussex County Angel. I have just started reading it myself, and will include the Angel’s local stories on next week’s roundup.
IN OTHER NEWS…..
Name the Delaware Liberal Beer. It is for a good cause. And we are bringing Drinking Liberally to Sussex County.
Senators Hatch and Kyl oppose sports gambling in Delaware.
Tommywonk reports that DNREC Secretary O’Mara has denied the Army Corps of Engineers’ request to deepen the Delaware River, but leaves the door open to a future request.
Homegrownboy lives up to his name and questions the existence of Pennsylvania license plates in Delaware. Steve Newton shoots him down.
That’s Elbert is a new grandfather. Congratulations!
Anderson bids adieu to Delaware Tonight.
Brian has some very good summer air conditioning tips.
Shirley editorializes on what she sees at the 4th Annual Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy Memorial Scholarship Motorcycle Ride.
Art Downs has an interesting article on manufactured home owners, or as they are sometimes referred to, trailer trash.
Charlie Copeland brags about his solar panels. He’s lucky. As a DuPont heir he could afford it.
Anderson shows us that one person can make a difference when they oppose something in society. And guess what: it has nothing to do with violence or threats of violence. Instead, it is an example of citizen activism and civic involvement that we can all be proud of, no matter our agreement or disagreement.
And he offers rare praise for former Governor Carper for some of his education reforms, like teaching reading.
Art Downs takes some alleged lampooning of Mike Protack’s mustache by some here at Delaware Liberal (helpfully without linking to the lampooning. Hey Art, no linky no existy), and rapidly breaks Godwin’s Law in the process.
The Republicans have a candidate in the 31st.
DELAWARE LIBERAL FEATURES
Last week’s Around the Horn Friday
Friday Afternoon Bacon Blogging
Guest Writer John Young’s Music for the Masses Saturday
Read All About It In the Sunday Papers.
A Guest Post by Commenter Dorian Gray.
1) Re: Shields Theory: I was on vacation on the 30th and the video didn’t come to my attention (through my daily google search for poop to throw at Mike Castle) until two days before it was picked up by drudge. That’s how bad ass I am. Don’t get on my bad side. Just don’t
2) Cool logo.
3) Go Wendy Jones.
LOL. Are you saying you leaked the video to Drudge? You are powerful.
Powerful and Amish: A Deadly Combination.
Breaking News: Jason joins DD in endorsing Wendy Jones.
4) This Feature is the best regular blog feature in DE
5) Seven EDs provide 69% of the vote in the 19th Senate District. That favors smart campaigners.
Dorian Gray’s guest post was really good. It pushed one of my largest buttons, but he is a smart guy and mixng it up with smart people that you disagree with feels like a month in the country compared to mixing it up with dumb people you disagree with.
He set a high bar for future guest posters.
The thanks go to you, Jason. You created this feature.
You get the props. It is hard work. Reading DelawarePolitics alone is like going into one of those deathtrap tanks in the Delaware City Valero refinery.
Thank you for your missrepresentation of my thread about the Mike Castle Listening Session. I am sure it was justifiable, but feel free to really read it next time.
I know plenty of birthers but I am not one. I really don’t care. Even if there were solid proof that Barak Obama was not a citizen I don’t think it would change anything, just as providing proof that he is a citizen hasn’t changed anything.
I do hope Rep. Castle continues his listening tours though. I think he actually listened as was demonstrated in his comments about the Health Care bill and his proposed amendment. If he continues to listen he may help to restore some of the trust that has been lost between the people and those who represent them.
To all the people that think he is listening to the wrong crowd on health care: I suggest that you start talking to him. If any Delawarians in Kent or Sussex counties support the Dingell bill (HR3200), or President Obama’s plans (apparently two very different things) they have been remarkably silent so far. Don’t be the silent majority. It only breeds resentment and frustration. I know, I’ve tried that route. Actually communicating with your representatives feels a lot better, and then when they don’t pay attention to my point of view least my frustration is justified.
Charlie Copeland has been on a roll lately. While attempting to make a point about health insurance, Charlie pulls out the silver spoon and beats us severely with it:
If you want to go comment on his blog, you might get one of the rare treats of the Delaware blogosphere: being accused of “class envy” by an actual du Pont.
i made it. yeah!
DL loves me, they really love me….OK, only some of the time….but I do love reading this blog…it is the bomb!
Tim,
You are right that Castle should continue his listening tours, because, well, that is part of his job. And if you just mean that, then fine, you are right. But I took your post to mean that he should listen to the Birthers, and no one wins in that situation. If that is not what you meant, then I misunderstood.
Finally, the equivocal nature on which you just addressed the Birther issue is no better than Liz Cheney’s. He was born in the United States. It has been proven. There is numerous documents proving it. A birth certificate. A birth announcement in two Honolulu newspapers over 47 years ago. The Hawaiian Republican Governor confirms that the President was born in the state. What more do you want? To equivocate encourages a lie. These Birthers deserve ridicule and shame. They do not deserve to be listened to.
Hey.. DD, were you a law school classmate of Rep. Murphy? I met him on the train yesterday on the way back to Wilmington. I had met him first a few years back when he first ran for Congress at a meeting of bloggers in Philly. Did talk about health care, with him. He is not with the blue dogs he says. Says supports something with a public option. Wish I had more time to talk with him. Nice guy.
Yes, he is a very nice guy. Did you come out to the Drinking Liberally events with Patrick when he was first running in 2006? He started off in 2006 as a Blue Dog but has drifted completely away from that, thankfully. He has been doing great work.
What Mike Castle should have done. When the birther nut started waving that baggie he should asked to see it. After a minute or so of looking at it he should have said, “This is clearly a forgery. Where is your REAL birth certificate?”
After the birther nut stammered something, he should have said, “Why is she refusing to show her real birth certificate? What is she hiding?”
No DD, I met him when folks who hang out at Eschaton had a blogger meet up in Philly called Eschacon. There were speaker panels and we had Paul Krugman come too.
Glad he is not with the blue dogs anymore. I asked him if he was with them on health care and he said no. Ya he has been doing good work esp on DADT.
Here’s one that DD missed. Well, it only got posted this morning.
http://delawareway.blogspot.com/2009/07/carper-ticks-in-at-unlucky-thirteen-on.html
Ths Sunlight Foundation shows Carper’s health insurance lobby money and maps out his former staffers-turned-K Street Kings and how it all comes home to roost.
Great post Nancy. If Tom Carper gets a monument after he dies it should be a sculpture of a big bag of money.
“The big story of the week was MIKE CASTLE vs. THE BIRTHERS, otherwise known as the Base of the Republican Party.”
Total and complete lie, those concerned by the birth certificate are not the base. You are too slow to realize what the base is in the GOP. Another case where uninformed liberals adjudicate the daily workings of the GOP.
Why not discuss how the Dems are blocking your President from health care? Pretty interesting how the Dems have a super majority and can’t move Cap and Tax, Card Check or Health Care.
Maybe, if we had a leader for a President?
Mike Protack
Stop the presses! I agree with Protack that (in addition to the base of the Republican party’s absurd concern with the Birth Certificate) in the long run Health care reform and putting the country on a green energy footing is going to be a boon for Democrats.
If birthers aren’t the base of the Republican party why do Republicans spend so much time accommodating their concerns? I see lots of Republicans that can’t even admit that the birthers are nuts. Just repudiate them. Tell them their concerns aren’t legitimate. Quit coddling them and saying they have a point or saying if Obama would just show his bc this would all go away.